England captain Ben Stokes will not be able to play against Sri Lanka
Photo: England Cricket
KEY POINTS
- Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka
- Stokes tore his left hamstring while playing in The Hundred
- Stokes had to use crutches after the injury while batting for Northern Superchargers.
England Test Captain Ben Stokes has been ruled out for the rest of the summer after tearing his left hamstring while playing for Northern Superchargers in The HundredAs a result, Stokes will miss England’s three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, which begins at Old Trafford on Wednesday 21 August.
According to a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), the vice-captain Papa Ollie will lead England’s Test team in Stokes’ absence.
Stokes, 33, had to walk on crutches following the injury while playing for Northern Superchargers against Manchester Originals during a Hundred match at Old Trafford on Sunday. He stopped after scoring a single and had to be carried off the field, before a scan on Tuesday revealed the severity of the injury.
The star all-rounder, who was playing in The Hundred for the first time in three years this season, looked to have regained his fitness this summer after recovering from surgery for a knee injury that had limited his ability to bowl. He played three times for Northern Superchargers during The Hundred, scoring just four runs and taking no wickets.
Notably, Stokes opted out of the 2024 Indian Premier League and Men’s T20 World Cup to aid with his recovery. Thereafter, the England Test captain led his side to a 3-0 series win over the West Indies, taking five wickets at an average of 34.20 in three Tests.
When will Ben Stokes make his return?
Ben Stokes is aiming to be fit in time for England’s three-match Test tour of Pakistan, which begins on October 7. The tour includes three Test matches in Multan, Karachi and Rawalpindi.
Apart from Stokes, England will also be without opener Zak Crawley for the series against Sri Lanka after he fractured the little finger on his right hand while fielding in the last Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston. Dan Lawrence is expected to open the batting alongside Ben Duckett.
Meanwhile, uncapped fast bowler Dillon Pennington, who was an unused part of the squad for the West Indies series, will miss the Sri Lanka Tests after also suffering a hamstring injury playing for Northern Superchargers in The Hundred.
Essex’s Jordan Cox has been called up to the Test squad for the first time after scoring 763 runs, including three centuries, at an average of 69.36 in the County Championship this season, while Nottinghamshire fast bowler Olly Stone has been recalled.
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